Indigenous Peoples Issues - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 676

which the survey is delivered is of special importance. The approach used by an anthropo-
logical surveyor can greatly affect attitudes and expectations as it is part of the experience
an individual or community has with a project or company. Time is required for inter-
ested, informed, and sensitive people to successfully carry out a social survey. The process
is as important as the product.

Identifying Stakeholders

The process of locating Traditional Owners or establishing Ancestral Domain, may be
very difi cult and time consuming, particularly if there are conl icting or overlapping
claims. Accordingly, the process should be initiated as early as possible, once the presence
of potentially economic mineralization has been established. This applies whether or not
there is a legal requirement (traditional ownership rights of Indigenous Peoples are not
recognized in all countries).
Where mining requires use of land held by Indigenous Peoples, the most important stake-
holders will be the Traditional Owners. Identii cation of Traditional Owners may be simple
or difi cult depending on location and circumstances. In Australia's Northern Territory, it is
the responsibility of the relevant Land Council to identify Traditional Owners.
In some areas, identii cation of Traditional Owners may require extensive research. In
parts of Papua New Guinea, individual land-holdings may be very small, with the result
that there may be hundreds or thousands of Traditional Owners for one mining project. In
these situations identifying Traditional Owners becomes one of the biggest and most dif-
i cult tasks involved in developing a mine. In some countries such as Indonesia, most land
is owned by the State. However, various categories of land tenure are recognized, based on
formal and informal land use.
Apart from the Traditional Owners, stakeholders will include other members of the
indigenous community and, possibly, other neighbouring communities. It is important that
members of communities at risk of being affected over the life of the mine such as down-
stream communities if there is potential for river degradation or reduced l ow are included
in the stakeholder identii cation process. There may also be non-indigenous stakeholders
which, in Australia might include pastoralists and tourism operators. In developing coun-
tries of the Asia-Pacii c they might include migrant groups, logging companies, missionaries,
plantation companies, trading companies, artisanal miners, and government administrators.
The nature of mining developments from mineral exploration through to operation and
ultimate closure means that identifying stakeholders is an ongoing process. As the project
moves towards the development phase the number of stakeholders increases. Furthermore,
as there is a tendency for migration to occur into the development area, these migrants also
become stakeholders (notwithstanding that the local community may hold strong views
regarding the level to which their rights should extend to the new migrant group).

Where mining requires use of
land held by Indigenous Peoples,
the most important stakeholders
will be the Traditional Owners.

The nature of mining
developments from mineral
exploration through to operation
and ultimate closure means that
identifying stakeholders is an
ongoing process.

Informing Stakeholders

All stakeholders need to be accurately informed of company plans. This is important so that
stakeholders can plan their own activities, and to avoid information gaps which will inevi-
tably be i lled by inaccurate rumours. The aim should be to avoid surprises, particularly
unpleasant ones. This requires a conscious effort to avoid creating unrealistic expectations.
Mechanisms for informing stakeholders depend on circumstances. Perhaps the best
method involves regular visits to individual stakeholders with information provided